Chinese Christians in Yunnan province who are being tried in court for their alleged involvement in a cult were reportedly forced to fire their attorneys to be replaced by government-appointed lawyers.

According to China Aid, seven Christians went to court in Chuxiong late last month to defend themselves against the charge of "organizing and using evil cults to disrupt law enforcement."

The defendants â€” Liu Wei, Li Yunxiu, Hu Yuxin, Li Chunyu, Yao Jiaping, Zhong Yonggui, and Li Wanhong â€” are allegedly members of the Three Grades of Servants group, which has been designated by the government as a cult because the members openly practice the Christian faith....

Well , if they were catholic , they would have been given a parade instead. Communist China wonâ€™t recognize home churches, and for the most part established Christian denominations. The RCC recently had the bishops step down and let the PRC place their own bishops instead. I pray that pope Francis ruins his church.